I have a slightly more serious topic for today. It’s something that has been bothering me for a bit and I’ve had some conversations with others that indicate it’s bothering them too.

Giving credit where credit is due.

I get it, you see or read something you like, it sticks with you and influences your next project. Someone has a fantastic idea for a blog post and it strikes you that you have some thoughts on the same topic. You see a recipe that you have to try and share with the world. That’s all one thing and actually what the idea behind Pinterest is all about…what I’m talking about is a slightly different monkey. I’m talking about seeing something, liking it a lot it, and flat out making it yourself. From top to bottom copying it for your own.

Actually, I get that too, and I do it all the time. I see something I like and make it. I also see something here and something there and oh my golly! Look at what I have now. No biggie.

Or is it?

Here’s where my issue with that comes in: When people are making/writing something, selling it, making money off of someone else’s idea, and claiming it as their own.

Maybe I’m sensitive to it because I’ve had lots of ideas ripped off? Blog posts where I’ve seen a IP address on my stats counter and they post something much like it the next week without linking back; work projects pitched as someone else’s and not even a mention that we had collaborated on it; crafty projects copied and I see them sold later on without even a nod that they had seen my work first.

I understand that posting it on the internet puts it out there and it’s not yours anymore, I also can understand that there really aren’t all that many “new” ideas out there, but how difficult is it to toss a link in a post or a shot out on facebook when you use someone else’s work?

Questions I’m seriously posing to you today:

Is taking someone else’s idea and using/selling it as your own a big deal?

Do you link back if you make/write something from someone else?

How much has to be “theirs” before you link back?

Am I just being a whiny biznatch about this whole thing?

Let me know what you think? I’d love to hear from crafters, artists, photographers, and writers to so please share if you’d like!

***If I’ve used something of yours or you feel like I have, let me know what and where and I’m happy to provide links. I do not wish to rip anyone off! ***

5 Responses to Credit where credit is due

1. Is taking someone else’s idea and using/selling it as your own a big deal?
Yes, especially if selling (making money) is involved. Ask for permission and if/when it’s obtained, get on with your bad self but always, ALWAYS credit the person who had the idea. See: people who sell knitted/crocheted stuff on Etsy without crediting who made the pattern they used. Just no.

2. Do you link back if you make/write something from someone else?
Yes. Admittedly, I mess up sometimes, like I’ll read something really cool that plants an idea in my head which I might go blog about a few days/weeks later after I’ve forgotten where I read the really cool something. That’s why there’s a disclaimer page on my blog that basically says if I’ve forgotten to credit something of someone’s please contact me and tell me and I’ll comply with how you want it handled. I honestly want to know if I’ve been an ass forgetting to give proper credit.

3. How much has to be “theirs” before you link back?
If it’s posted on their website and for all intents and purposes appears to be credited to them then I take it as theirs and link back.

4. Am I just being a whiny biznatch about this whole thing?
I don’t think so. I believe firmly in giving credit where credit’s due, probably because I majored in English at university and my professors put the fear of God in me about plagiarism. I don’t want to rip off someone else’s hard work. BUT I think it’s cool to take ideas that have already been put out there and maybe pick them apart or expand on them. Does that make sense?

1. Yes, stealing is wrong.
2. Yes. If it’s just, “I saw the idea for this when reading xyz.” I post so infrequently though, usually if I have something to say the ideas are mine.
3. If I have an idea that I KNOW for a fact came from somewhere else, I like to give credit. If I can’t remember where the idea came from, I try to say that too…like, “I think I’ve seen this somewhere else but I can’t remember where…” in fact, I know I’ve said that at least once.
4. Nope.

This post just came to mind. Rewind. Looking at a couple of my new followers and one, after following me, reposted a recipe I did (I even linked to the blog where I found it), and gave no type of credit. Is this a huge coincidence? I think not. Is there a polite way to say “hey girl, I know what you did! Amend your ways!” ? Because I’m very irked.

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I'm around the internet a lot less these days. I guess I've reached the point where I want actual human interaction with people in front of me and not via a screen if I can help it and that I wanted to experience more of the moments for me, not just to document them for others.

I still make stuff. I sometimes still blog. I'm still usually doing something ridiculous. I think I'm funny, but sometimes people don't agree. I've been reading a lot more.

or in haiku form:

used to be here more,
realized want to live, to live
not just for writing